analysis
Difficult times in English football: The coach is heavily criticized, the European runners-up are relegated to bottom of the table in the Nations League – an inventory.
At the European Championship 2021, the “Three Lions” into the hearts of their nation. The team defeated Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Ukraine and Denmark en route to the final at home in Wembley. In the final against Italy, it was to be their first title since 1966.
The rest is well known: the English lost dramatically on penalties, Italy were crowned European champions. Pure disillusionment for the English – and the hangover apparently still has an effect today.
Downward trend in World Cup year
In the current year, the form curve of the English national team is pointing steeply downwards. The 0-1 opening defeat in the Nations League in Hungary was followed by a draw against Germany. At the reunion against Italy, only a zero number jumped out.
The low point followed on the fourth matchday. As hosts, the English team was completely crushed against Hungary. It was a hearty 0:4 smack, the highest home defeat of the English in their history. It didn’t get any better in the second leg in Italy on Friday evening either: Total harmlessness in the end led to a 0-1 defeat.
Just one goal in five games
In 2022, the English are without a competitive win, relegation to League B of the Nations League is sealed – the duel on Monday against Germany (September 26th, 2022, live ticker at sportschau.de) is meaningless from a purely sporting point of view.
The offensive has particular potential for improvement: After five games, England have only scored one goal. A root formation is not yet recognizable.
Much criticism of Southgate
The criticism of coach Gareth Southgate is accordingly louder, including the selection of his staff. The coach did without a few proven stars in the squad for the two games. For example, the 52-year-old left out ex-Dortmunder Jadon Sancho, but also his teammate Marcus Rashford. A decision that has met with harsh criticism from many fans and experts.
Because the form of the two actually speaks against their disregard: Sancho scored three goals in the first eight competitive games, Rashford was also in six Premier League-Successful games three times and set up two more hits. The duo thus has a large share in the upward trend of Manchester United.
Hard test as an opportunity
Southgate’s analyzes don’t seem very profound in order to be able to guess ways out of the crisis. “When you have a difficult run, you are even more determined. We are aware of why these things happened and what needs to happen to rectify these things.”said Southgate ahead of the Italy defeat.
After that it sounded something like this: “We had a bad run of results and again we didn’t get the result we needed and wanted. But it’s up to us to put things right.” To who else?
The game against the Germans is secondary for the group table, but has become all the more important for the mood in the country with a view to the World Cup. Southgate tries his hand at healing, but doesn’t sound all that convincing: “There were a lot of positive signals from us as a team, it was a step in the right direction. We have to believe in what has made us strong and also brought us success in the past tournaments.”
But where exactly this belief is supposed to come from so quickly, Southgate has not yet revealed.